Improvement in wrapper-cutters



J. R. TUNNICLIFF.

Improvement in Wrapper-Cutters. No. 114,887, PatentedMay 16,187I'.

wtmm:

diniitt finite Letters Patent Ila-114,887, dated May 16, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT lN WRAPPER-CUTTERS.

- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all' ohom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, J OHN R. Tonnromrn, of Van 'Hornesville, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Wrapper-Gutter; and I do hereby declare -that the followingis a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

' Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section, of my improved wrapper-cutter.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to a new way of simultaneously holding and smoothing a tobacco-leaf, gauging the width of the wrapper, and cutting it in parallel lines; and

It consists in an. elastic rotary cylinder to smooth the leaf, and in combining two annular knives, a 1'0- tary drum, and an elastic cylinder, as hereinafter described.

A in the drawing represents a drum or roller of suitable length and diameter fitted upon an arbor, a, which is hung in a bifurcated handle, B.

The drum carries at its ends circular knives O O, which project with their cutting-edges beyond its periphery.

The circumference of the drum is made elastic by being covered with a layer, B, of rubber or equivalent material, forming a cushion.

The device is used by placing it upon one end of a leaf, of which the other end is stretched by hand, and then moving it forward, causing the drum and knives to roll on the leaf. The knives will thereby be made to cut out a wrapper of the requisite width, the elastic drum in the meanwhile resting on the portion that is being out, smoothing it in the proper manner.

The width of the wrapper is determined by the distance apart of the knives, which may be varied at will.

Heretofore only common knife-blades were employed for cutting wrappers. The use of the same was very inconvenient, as the hand holding the knife had also to press upon the leaf to allow the'same to be held stretched by the other end.

The elastic cushion on the drum serves the purpose of the hand for holding down the leaf, but much better than the hand, as it is always in time with the cutter, and does not unnecessarily stretch the cut portion of the wrapper.

Another advantage of my apparatus is that, by having two cutters, the complete wrapper may at once be out, while heretofore the knife had to be twice applied for the same purpose.

The cutter can, when tipped or inclined to one side, he used as a plain cigar-knife for cutting a leaf at but one place in desired numbers.

Having thus described myinvention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A rotary drum, A, and annular knives O C at the ends thereof, combined, as described, with-the rubber cylinder 7) moving over the leaf under elastic pressure to smooth it, as specified.

JOHN R. TUNNIOLIEF. Witnesses:

HENRY RowN, WM. CAMERON.

extent time 

